Page 28 of Devoted

She takes a long, shuddering inhale before releasing the words I knew she had caged inside. “I was raped.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to fight the flare of rage that threatens to overtake me. I fucking knew, but hearing it come out of her mouth makes me feel murderous.

“Oh, Rosa, I’m so sorry,” I whisper, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

“He worked for my dad. He was five years older. I thought it was cool he was giving me, a little seventeen-year-old virgin, attention. He would always flirt with me behind my dad’s back, telling me I was beautiful.”

The asshole.

“And then one night, my dad was out. He came into our house and tried to kiss me. I said no. I wanted to save myself for “the one”. But really, he was kind of creeping me out.”

Clenching my jaw, I wait for her to continue.

“He stormed out, and I thought that was the end of it. But two days later, my dad went to get Eva from Sicily. She had stayed with my aunt over the summer. I had exams coming up, so I stayed home. Our mom died a few years before that, so our dad was barely home. He shipped us off most summers.”

She stops and her body starts to tremble next to me, so I pull her in closer with my other arm and stroke her bicep.

“I just got out of the shower and he was sitting there, waiting for me on my bed.” Her voice quivers, then falters.

I try to wait patiently, but the silence grows. Maybe she needs a little reassurance.

“You’re doing amazing, Rosa.”

She takes a deep breath and I brace myself.

“I told him to leave, that I’d call my dad. He had my phone in his hand and shoved it in his pocket. I darted for the door, and he grabbed me before I could get out. He squeezed my wrist so tight, I can still feel it now.” Her hand twitches against my chest as if she’s fighting his grasp.

“I-I don’t know if you’d want to hear the rest, do I need to do the graphic details?”

“You tell me as much as you’d like. I can handle it, I promise you. If you feel letting out everything will help, then do it.”

Her hair tickles my neck as she nods.

“He yanked me back by my head and threw me down on my bed. When I tried to climb off, he ripped the towel off of me. Pinning my arms over my head. And then he, err–bit me.”

I clench my jaw so hard my teeth grind, anger rolling through me.

“It left scars of his teeth marks. That’s why I have this tattoo on my collarbone.” She raises onto her elbow and pulls down the neck of her shirt.

“Jesus,” I hiss.

I look down at the array of dark flowers that runs across the top of her shoulder and my eyes start to water. This poor girl.

“He told me that my ‘virgin cunt’ would always be his. When he flipped me over, he held me down. He was so heavy I could barely breathe. I tried to scream and cry and kept telling him no, but he wouldn't stop. It burned and hurt so bad it felt like he kicked me in the stomach. When he was finished, he kissed me. Then he said he would be back for me.” Her words come out in a rush. Each tumbling faster than the next, like a dam has broken inside of her and she needs to get it all out.

“Fuck, Rosa.” I run a hand over my face and let out a ragged breath.

Turning on my side to face her, I pull her in for a hug.

“I’m so sorry, Rosa. I can’t even imagine that pain you’re going through.” She nuzzles her face into my neck, her nails digging into my skin.

“I’m so proud of you. You are the bravest woman to walk this earth. I promise I will make sure he never comes back. I swear on my life.”

Her tears fall against my throat, her body jerking from the sobs wracking through her. All I can do at this moment is hold her.

“Where is he now?” I can call Enzo in the morning to find this monster.

“I don’t know. My dad just said he took care of it. He refused to speak about it again with me. When I asked if he was dead, he shook his head. He let him live, Luca. If my uncle was there, he would never have let that happen.”

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